What is Backward Masking?
The term Backward Masking is often misunderstood, and for many years it has been loosely applied to any intelligible message found in audio recordings played in reverse. However the term is really more narrow than that, and it actually refers to any message that is intentionally superimposed backwards on an audio recording. In other words it is done deliberately usually in the recording studio. Essentially, it’s a technique used mainly in popular music where sounds or messages are recorded backwards and then intentionally inserted into a musical track which is actually created to be played forward only.
The following chart-topping artists have all used backward masking in their music…
The History of Backward Masking
Before the introduction of CDs and tape cassette recorders, music was etched onto grooves in vinyl records which were placed on turntables moving clockwise or “forwards” and a stylus (a mechanical finger) was used to create sound. In the late 50`s 60`s and early 70`s in order to gain a wider audience, and, probably to attract more publicity, musical artists “camouflaged” sounds onto their records through intentional technical engineering so that when the music track was played forwards these particular recordings created incoherent sounds. However, when these tracks were played backwards, intelligible sounds were clearly audible and hence the word backmasking arose, in association with music that was “masked” when played forwards but “unmasked” when played backwards.
This era was not, though, the first example of experimentation with music being played backwards.
1877: Thomas Edison Invents the Gramaphone
It was Thomas Edison, who, whilst working on two other inventions discovered a method to reproduce sound with the invention of the gramophone in 1877 and he was the first person credited with being able to capture sound and play it back at his...
1920s: Voices from the Dead
In the early 1920`s Edison published an article in the Scientific American where he speculated that it was possible to build a machine that could communicate with the dead and this was fueled by earlier rumors in an interview he gave in 1890, where he promoted the idea...
Aleister Crowley: Magician & Theatrical Occultist
In the meantime, another individual who cited playing records backwards as a useful tool was Aleister Crowley, the infamous magician and theatrical occultist. He bought it into the public arena when he extolled his students who wished to become...
1928: Magnetic Tape for Sound Recording
The use of playing music backwards became even simpler when the technology for recording sound was revolutionized by the 9Fritz Pfleumer's invention of the of magnetic tape for sound recording in 1928. This gave artists and producers the power...
1950s: Experimenting with Technology
10Playing sounds in reverse took another direction when in 1956 Attila von Szalay and Raymond Bayless started using reel to reel tape recorders to play sounds backwards and designed a machine which they claimed recorded voices from the dead...
1960s: Caught Up in Beatlemania
Once this new invention became the norm for recording music, backmasking began to evolve rapidly. 12In November 1966 Paul McCartney had been involved in a traffic accident after storming out of a recording session with The Beatles. In the autumn of 1969 the group...
1970s – 1980s: Christians Condemn Backmasking
15During the late 70`s and early 80`s when the use of backmasking was approaching its height it was claimed that hidden messages were even being found on albums released by Christian artists and not just in popular music. An article entitled...
1983: First Legislation Passed
Church groups demanded introduction of legislation to protect their children but the only action taken was the firing of five DJ`s who had encouraged listeners to look for hidden messages in records. At a later date, in 1983, legislation was passed unanimously by...
The Birth of Reverse Speech
16It was at the time when the frenzy connecting Satan with rock and roll was at its peak that David Oates who at the time, was running a privately funded rehabilitation unit for teenagers, was confronted with frightened individuals who had claimed to...
Examples of Backward Masking
A number of musical artists continue to use backmasking to this day in order to draw attention to their music. You will find below different examples of backmasking in music, all using a variety of expression from the obscene to the rhetorical and comical.
Message:
They`re coming to take me away, Ha Haaaa
Forward:
All gibberish
In the first known recorded backmasking of its kind this group decided to record the whole of their “side B” record backwards so that when played normally the whole track sounded incoherent. “Side A” was the opposite of “side B” in that it was the audible translation of the song which refers to the consequences of a break up with a girl-friend.
Message:
When the rain comes, they run and hide their heads.
Forward:
Unintelligible
This is the very fist documented instance of backward masking used in a song.
Message:
Turned out nice again
Forward:
Unintelligible
The Beatles in their 1995 release of Free as a Bird, had a secret backward message of John Lennon saying “Turned out nice again.”.
Message:
Paul is a dead man man miss him miss him
Forward:
Gibberish
This example fueled the “Paul is dead” hoax and conspiracy theory prevalent at the time.
Message:
You`ve just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to Old Pink, care of the funny farm, Chalfont then a voice in the background adding Roger Carolyn is on the phone!
Forward:
Unintelligible
17When asked about the hidden message in this album, the drummer, Nick Mason explained that following the hysteria regarding subliminal messages that other artists were inserting in their records, the group decided to poke fun at the whole hysteria surrounding this at that time.
Message:
Annuit Coeptis, Novus ordo seclorum
Forward:
Unintelligible
The song taken from the ”Heavy Metal Poisoning” record contains the backward Latin words which are loosely translated as “God has favoured our undertakings; a new order for the ages”… these are words which form part of the Great Seal appearing on the back of the American dollar bill. This backmasked message was in reply to efforts to place warning labels on music that contained explicit lyrics and the album was to ridicule the restrictions that Christian groups were calling for on popular music as previously mentioned.
Message:
the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout down came the rain and washed the spider out, out came the sun and dried up all the rain and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again
Forward:
Unintelligible
Message:
You should brush your teeth
Forward:
Instrumental
Another slap in the face for those looking for backward messages.
Message:
You must wait for the rest of the non-believers, if you disagree you will sleep
Forward:
Music with background gibberish
Another heavy metal band from North Carolina known for their differing style of music and technically gifted music composition playing backward messages to attract attention.
Message:
Now tell me about your miserable little lives. I do not subscribe to your superstitious, narrow minded flights of paranoia. I and people like me will always prevail!! You will never stifle free speech in any country in the world because we will fight forever (forever a little faded)
Forward:
Lie back and dream of me red death to set you free we turn the screws to make you die soft flesh and razor blades Golgotha ace of spades steel needles kiss your pretty eyes
Motorhead went through a long legal battle with their record company and so this message was in defiance of the whole controversy regarding backmasked music.
Message:
Seven,seven, seven. I am the bringer of the end fear me. I am the beast that is technology
Forward:
This is the words reversed, ie ygolonhcet si that…etc.s
Sentient 6 refers to a robot which actually envies humans because they have emotions and this is the essence of the song.
Message:
In the name of God (let) the churches burn
Forward:
Gibberish
18Interesting to note here that the song was written by Varg Vikernes who was later sent to prison for committing arson – he was found guilty of burning down several churches in Norway. 19Also this album was released in a race to become the most evil metal group in Norway.
Message:
Don`t forget to breathe in
Forward:
Gibberish
From the album motorcade of generosity it was the debut studio album of the American alternative rock band: they chose to insert a message at the end of the record just for fun.
Message:
She worries about you, call your mother
Forward:
Gibberish with music
The group were in Berlin at the time and bassist Bob Hardy was feeling homesick so the band inserted this message without his knowledge.
Message:
Better look around before you say you don’t care shut your f**king mouth about the length of my hair how would you survive if you were alive sh***y little person
Forward:
Gibberish
20There was a hidden message at the end of side one of the album and the record label chose to remove it from the original version of “Mother People”.
Message:
See you in hell
Forward:
Gibberish
In association with most heavy metal bands they inserted a backmasked message at the introduction of this record.
Message:
I love you santa baby
Forward:
Unintelligible
A cynical response to all the backward messages which are accused of containing satanic messages.
Message:
I’ve travelled many roads and seen many things in search of fortune and fame. All my dreams died no matter how hard I tried so nothing but unhappiness remains. So now I sit with this pen in my hand, itching to produce and perform. Waiting to rule with absolute power. I love these calm little moments before the storm.
Forward:
Gibberish
Message:
Wow you must have a lot (fades) time, time on your hands
Forward:
Gibberish
Another example of having fun at those looking for hidden messages.
Message:
Satan eats cheeze whiz
Forward:
Gibberish
Again, another example of having fun at those looking for hidden messages weird Al style.
Message:
What are you looking for the devil for when you oughta be looking for the lord
Forward:
Gibberish
This backmasked message from Christian Rock Group Petra in their song, Judas Kiss, chastises believers for listening for satanic messages.
Message:
Anyone who believes in backward masking is a fool
Forward:
Unintelligible
This backward message by The Waitresses in their song “The Smartest Person I Know”, also ridicules people looking for backward messages
Message:
What ho’, sed de t’ing wid de t’ree bonce [said the thing with the three heads]. Don’t meddle wid t’ings you don’t understand
Forward:
Unintelligible gibberish
Iron Maiden’s 1983 album Piece of Mind features a short backwards message, included by the band in response to allegations of Satanism that were surrounding them at the time. Between the songs “The Trooper” and “Still Life” is inebriated drummer Nicko McBrain doing an impression of Idi Amin Dada: “‘What ho’, sed de t’ing wid de t’ree bonce [said the thing with the three heads]. Don’t meddle wid t’ings you don’t understand” followed by a belch.
Message:
It doesn’t take a genius to tell the difference between chicken shit and chicken salad
Forward:
Unintelligible
Message:
Hello, how are you? I am fine, because I know that the Lord is coming soon
Forward:
Unintelligible
Message:
You fucking asshole, play the record in the normal way.
Forward:
Unintelligible
This example is from Poesie Noire on their album Tetra at the end of the song Escape.
Message:
I buried my parakeet in the backyard. Oh no you`re playing your record backwards. Watch out you might ruin your needle
Forward:
Unintelligible
Again Fred Schneider is aware of the backward masking agenda and is having fun at the whole concept.
Message:
The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. Turn Back
Forward:
Incoherent
In their previous record Eldorado the group had been accused of inserting backward messages which they vehemently denied but in response to those previous claims Jeff Lynne the singer/songwriter with ELO decided to intentionally insert this message in the song. He was deriding those who were wasting time trying to find messages by playing records backwards.
Further Learning
We recommend that anybody interested in backward masking should also learn about Reverse Speech.
The two, whilst related, should not be confused with each other. The former is used intentionally and artistically in music and other modalities to elicit certain reactions, whilst the later, Reverse Speech, occurs naturally in speech to communicate information which originates from the subconscious part of our selves and which we may not be aware of consciously.
Reverse speech occurs backwards in speech and can be heard if human speech is recorded and played backwards. Mixed amongst the gibberish at regular intervals can be heard quite clear grammatically correct sentences that detail what is happening in the unconscious mind of the speaker. If a person is lying in forward speech, their reverse speech may reveal the truth. At deeper levels reverse speech can reveal psychological causes for current issues, whether they be mental emotional or physical.